The Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center will hold a Recycled Glass Economic Development Forum on September 21 in Harrisburg. The focus of the forum is to strategically evaluate economic development opportunities for recycled glass use and manufacturing operations in the Commonwealth.

As sustainable glass recycling continues to be a challenge for both supply and demand side recycling, the RMC is poised to enhance use of this priority recycled commodity. Cooperation in this effort will assist the RMC to create sustainable action items and programmatic activity for expansion of this pivotal recycling industry in the Commonwealth.

For this program, invited guests and RMC partners will be requested to participate in a facilitated roundtable on demand-side glass recycling challenges. These challenges not only limit the pathway to further beneficial uses of recycled glass, but ultimately result in significant non-renewable energy loss. Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to illuminate a 100 watt light bulb for four hours.

Anticipated outcomes from the event include refinement of process development initiatives, acceleration of glass technology commercialization, strategic partnering opportunities, new glass use and manufacturing innovations, a review of glass cullet supply chain logistics, continuous improvement of glass cullet quality, and occupational based technology transfer initiatives.

Nationally, the glass container industries occupy a $5.5 billion contribution to the national economy, employing 18,000 skilled professionals in 23 states, including Pennsylvania. Further, raw materials for glass container production are all found domestically.

For additional information on the forum, contact Bob Bylone, Recycling Program Manager at rjb128@psu.edu or 717-948-6729.

The Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center is a non-profit corporation located in Middletown, Dauphin County, primarily funded through Department of Environmental Protection grant assistance.

8/25/2006